Heated steering-wheel



S. P. KAY.

HEATED STEERING WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 4. 1920.

1 ,358,45 1 I I Patented Nov. 9, 1920 INI/E/VTOR' 5a mue/ P Ray Anon/15FPATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL I. KAY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

HEATED STEERING-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

Application filed February 14,1920. Serial No. 356,227.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL P. KAY, a citizenof the United States, residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe andState of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inHeated Steering- Wheels,of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a new and improved form ofsteering wheel, one that will be heated sufficiently to keep the operators hands, or more especially his fingers, warm in'eold weather.

Another object is to take the heat from the exhaust of the enginewithout interfering with the operation'of the wheel.

This and other objects of the invention will be illustrated in thedrawings, described in the specification and pointed out in the claim atthe end thereof.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the steering wheel. 1

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2X2X of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3X-3X of Fig. 2. v

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4:X4X of Fig. 2.

In the accompanying drawings, like reference numerals indicate likeparts.

In the drawings, reference numeral 1 indicates the wheel built up withthe spider 2 carrying the' wood rim. 3. On the top of this wheel iscarried the tube 4 which extends around the wheel and is connected withthe tubes 5 and 6. These tubes terminate in an annular shell 7, having aflange 8 thereon. This plate is fastened to and turns with the wheel andsteering head. Below this shell is the annular shell 9 having theflanges 10, 11 and 12 thereon, between which are formed two concentricchannels or passage ways extending clear around the shell. The flanges 8and 12 make a close fit with each other and the flanges 10, 11 and 12make a close fit with the shell 7 to prevent the leak of gases.

Below the channels and communicating therewith are the tubes 13 and 14,the tube 13 communicating with the exhaust pipe close to the engine.Through the tube 13 the hot gases of the exhaust pass into the outerchannel and from that to the tube 6 into the tube 4: and around thesteering wheel and then out through the tube 5 and the inner channel inthe shell 9 and tube 14 to the atmosphere.

By reason of the annular channels with which the lower and upper sets oftubes connect, a continuous flow of gases is secured into and throughthe rim of the wheel so that the rim of the wheel may be kept Warm. Inthe tube 13 is provided a valve 15A by which the flow of gas through therim of the wheel may be regulated so that it may be kept at the desiredaverage temperature.

The shells 9 and 7 are each made of two semi-circular sections so thatthey may be placed on the steering wheel post and connected up withouttaking off the wheel. In order to hold the semi-circular sections of theshells 7 and 8 together, clamps 15 and 16 are placed around the sectionsof these shells which hold the sections tightly together on the steeringcolumn after they have been properly located thereon.

It will be understood that while the channels inclosed between theflanges 11- and 12 run clear around the steering wheel, it will besuflicient if they extend only partially around as it is well known thatduring 95% of the driving the position of the steering wheel does notvary more than a'few de.

grees and it is sufficient if the connection between the lower and uppertubes be maintained during only a portion of the time.

I claim:

In a heating device for heating a steering wheel, the combination of astationary shell and a movable shell, each of said shells made up of twosemi-circular sections, one of said shells being adapted to be heldstationary on the steering column and the other of said shells beingadapted to rotate with the steering wheel, clamps to hold thesemi-circular sections of each of said shells together and fasten saidshells to the steering wheel column, said stationary shell having a pairof channels therein, the open side of these channels being adapted to beclosed by said movable shell, an inlet and an outlet for each of saidshells to convey the exhaust gases through said shells into a tubing andback again, said tubing being adapted to be fas tened to the peripheryof the steering wheel.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

SAMUEL P. KAY.

